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Lyons: Refuse roadside beggars; don't hate them

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 6:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 6:17 p.m.

Only rarely does it happen that there is a lot of reaction to a column and almost all of it supports what I wrote.

Facts

ORGANIZED PANHANDLERS?

The rumors continue – are some of Sarasota's panhandlers working as an organized group? Tell us, or show us, why you think so. Contact reporter Jessie Van Berkel at: jessie.vanberkel@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4882.

If it happened all the time, I'd worry I had become prone to stating the obvious.

But I'm glad almost everyone I've heard from agrees it is time we agree to stop giving money to panhandlers holding begging signs next to the road. Or in the road.

A few people agreed in the wrong spirit, maybe. Some already were more tempted to kick a beggar in the shin than hand him a dime.

There is no need to be a hater. Some of those beggars might be despicable louts, but others probably just have more personal problems and dysfunctions than most of us can guess.

But either way, don't give street beggars money. That's the message. Unless you want to support habitual begging as a common career, and you hope it will continue to thrive and become a widespread custom and a growing industry, say no.

People beg because we make it profitable. It is up to us to make sure it isn't, unless we want begging to remain the most prominently visible local occupation.

Decent people want to help the needy, but they make a mistake when they give that unwisely. As I wrote, experts agree that handing money out of a car window contributes mostly to drug and booze purchases. Helping someone get back on track requires supporting organizations that have sensible policies for helping people help themselves.

But despite vast support for this “say no” message, a few readers did express qualms or disagreement. One thought I was being mean. Another implied Jesus would not agree with saying no to beggars.

The Bible strongly supports generosity toward the needy, that's for sure. And I'm all for it. But I'm sure it doesn't support enabling habitual drug abuse or alcoholism as a lifestyle, or urge that charitable donations be done in a destructive and useless way in which the only recipients are highly visible roadside hustlers.

I keep thinking about how, a few months back, readers kept sending links to a video showing an act of kindness toward a pitiful looking homeless man sitting on a cold New York City sidewalk.

A city cop brought him a pair of boots and was shown gently putting them on the man's bare feet.

That was memorable. The cop must be a rare human being. And a wise one, too. He knew not to hand the man the price of boots in cash.

Givers, whether joyfully generous or just guilt ridden, need to get over the mistaken idea that handing money to beggars in traffic is helpful. I hope all who get that will spread the word.

<p>Only rarely does it happen that there is a lot of reaction to a column and almost all of it supports what I wrote.</p><p>If it happened all the time, I'd worry I had become prone to stating the obvious.</p><p>But I'm glad almost everyone I've heard from agrees it is time we agree to stop giving money to panhandlers holding begging signs next to the road. Or in the road.</p><p>A few people agreed in the wrong spirit, maybe. Some already were more tempted to kick a beggar in the shin than hand him a dime.</p><p>There is no need to be a hater. Some of those beggars might be despicable louts, but others probably just have more personal problems and dysfunctions than most of us can guess.</p><p>But either way, don't give street beggars money. That's the message. Unless you want to support habitual begging as a common career, and you hope it will continue to thrive and become a widespread custom and a growing industry, say no.</p><p>People beg because we make it profitable. It is up to us to make sure it isn't, unless we want begging to remain the most prominently visible local occupation.</p><p>Decent people want to help the needy, but they make a mistake when they give that unwisely. As I wrote, experts agree that handing money out of a car window contributes mostly to drug and booze purchases. Helping someone get back on track requires supporting organizations that have sensible policies for helping people help themselves.</p><p>But despite vast support for this “say no” message, a few readers did express qualms or disagreement. One thought I was being mean. Another implied Jesus would not agree with saying no to beggars.</p><p>The Bible strongly supports generosity toward the needy, that's for sure. And I'm all for it. But I'm sure it doesn't support enabling habitual drug abuse or alcoholism as a lifestyle, or urge that charitable donations be done in a destructive and useless way in which the only recipients are highly visible roadside hustlers.</p><p>I keep thinking about how, a few months back, readers kept sending links to a video showing an act of kindness toward a pitiful looking homeless man sitting on a cold New York City sidewalk.</p><p>A city cop brought him a pair of boots and was shown gently putting them on the man's bare feet.</p><p>That was memorable. The cop must be a rare human being. And a wise one, too. He knew not to hand the man the price of boots in cash.</p><p>Givers, whether joyfully generous or just guilt ridden, need to get over the mistaken idea that handing money to beggars in traffic is helpful. I hope all who get that will spread the word.</p>